Darling View Thoroughbreds sire Playing God has strength in numbers leading up to the G2 WA Guineas (1600m) with Almighty Class ($9), Zipaway ($14), Rope Them In ($17) and Investementstrategy ($21) all in the market to emulate their sire on November 25.
Playing God won the 2010 WA Guineas and his trainer Neville Parnham is confident Zipaway has the potential to claim this year’s classic following a powerful victory in the Print Hall Plate (1400m) at Ascot on Saturday.
“I gave him a week off following his first-up win at Belmont because I knew it would be a month between runs until today,” he said. “And I was confident after he galloped brilliantly on the grass Wednesday morning.”
Parnham and his wife Carol bred Zipaway (Photo / Western Racepix) and race him with former Vice-Chair of Perth Racing Paula Sullivan. “He’s going to make a nice horse. It took him a few strides to wind up in the straight but he finished over the top of them getting out to 1400m.”
Parnham is also keen on stablemate Investmentstrategy who filled out a quinella for his sire and the stable after collaring front-runner Five Down (Better Than Ready) at the furlong.
“He’s a gross colt and will keep improving. I thought he was a definite danger first-up today coming off some very good form in the autumn.”
Meanwhile, Hong Kong offers for Almighty Class have been knocked back in the aftermath of a dominant first-up victory in the Max Simmonds Stakes (1000m) on October 14.
“There’s been plenty of offers but he’s not for sale at the moment,” trainer Mitch Pateman told The West Australian on the weekend. “He has some big money races coming up and the owners want to keep enjoying the ride.”
Almighty Class is on the third-line of betting for the WA Guineas (1600m), however, Pateman is keeping his options open for a change of tack towards the LR Placid Ark Stakes (1200m) for which he’s a $5 pre-post favourite. A final decision will be made after this Saturday’s LR Belgravia Stakes (1200m) at Ascot.
Playing God is the reigning Champion Sire of WA and stands for a $33,000 fee at Darling View Thoroughbreds with Splintex ($11,000) and newcomer Lightsaber ($6,600). Service fees (inc GST).
